When I first saw this Art Impressions Front-N-Backs Cat and Dog<\/a><\/span>\u00a0stamp set with the an adorable little dog and sweet cat with a bow I knew I HAD to have it! LOL \u00a0However, when I picked it up, months ago, I had so many other projects on my “to do” list that I just didn’t get a chance to play with it.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Finally I got the chance when I participated in the Diemond Dies January 2015 card exchange. \u00a0I knew I wanted to use the Window Die Set<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0(which includes the window frame, shutters, and a flower box), and the Pine Branch Die<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0to fill the flower box (since it is winter\u00a0and very few flowers are around). When I was making the first card, I had been house bound with a badly sprained ankle so I also decided to use “dream” from the Word Die Set<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0to suggest that the little dog was dreaming of spring and wanting to play outside. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

For the second card, which I am donating in a batch of\u00a0Valentines cards for children at St. Judes, I used a little sentiment that says “I Dig You”\u00a0from the Paper Smooches Woofers and Tweeters<\/a><\/span>\u00a0stamp set and heat embossed it. \u00a0To add a little Valentines love I also punched out two little red hearts to dot the “i”s. \u00a0This reminds me of my grade school days when I used to do that in my handwriting. LOL<\/p>\n

NOTE: My readers can use Diemond Dies<\/a><\/span><\/span> Coupon Code “thankskristina<\/strong>” for 10% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping on orders of $35 or more!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I die cut the window frame 2xs for each card. Then I used an X-ACTO #2 Knife<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to cut out the opening for the window (it doesn’t have to be exact, just larger than the inside frame of the window — 2.5″ x 3″) from the front panel of the card. Being careful to align the front and back window frames around the opening, I used foam <\/a>adhesive to the window frame on the front of the card to add a little dimension. I wanted to keep a very CAS look to the front so while I could have used some patterned paper to make it look like a wallpapered room, I chose to go all white. \u00a0I did use patterned papers (both 10+ years old) to create a feeling of the outside of a house and a wintery scene (which also functions as a place to write a note) for the inside of the cards.<\/p>\n

I quickly colored up the stamped pups (giving them different markings because I get bored easily-LOL). \u00a0The Copic colors I used were E21, E25 and C1 (for shading)–that’s it! I\u00a0used wet glue and foam adhesive to pop the body up over the front window and the the face of the pup on the reverse side of the window frame. As designed the face lines up perfectly with the head area of the back on the other side. How clever, right?!<\/p>\n

The following is a video share of the “Dream” card:<\/p>\n